Click here to view fulltext PDF

Permanent link:
https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/pram/029/04/0409-0417

Nematogens; optical birefringence; order parameters; density

Results of the measurement of refractive indices and densities of three nematic liquid crystals at different temperatures are reported. The molecular polarizabilities have been calculated from refractive indices using both the Vuks’ and the Neugebauer’s relations. The orientational order parameters are determined from the polarizability values. The variation of order parameter with temperature for these compounds shows a reasonably good agreement with Maier and Saupe theory except near the clearing points where the experimental values are less than those obtained from the theory. The possible reasons for this have been discussed.

M Mitra¹ S Paul¹ R Paul¹

1. Department of Physics, North Bengal University, Siliguri - 734 430, India

Published

October 1987

Manuscript received

6 February 1987

Manuscript revised

3 August 1987